Video: Aung San Suu Kyi collects rights prize 23 years late

Two decades after being awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was finally able to accept the prize at the European Parliament on Monday.

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi answers journalists’ questions during a news briefing after receiving her 1990 Sakharov Prize
during an award ceremony,
at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. Photogrraph: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrived at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today to finally collect the Sakharov Prize she was awarded in 1990.

The prize for freedom of thought named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov is awarded annually to individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom.

Although she won it 23 years ago in recognition of her fight for democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Ms Suu Kyi had been unable to collect it as she was placed under house arrest by military rulers.

Ms Suu Kyi is in Europe to try to bring international pressure to bear on the military rulers in her home country to speed up the introduction of pro-democracy measures and changes to Myanmar’s constitution.